---
title: "Keep backups after deleting a node"
description: "Keep a node's CDP Backup recovery points when you delete the node, restore its files onto another node, and delete them when done."
content_type: "how-to"
product: "cdp-backup"
platform: "MyAccount"
url: "/myaccount/cdp-backup/how-to/keep-backups-after-deleting-a-node/"
topic: ["monitor-and-manage"]
relationships: {"requires":["/myaccount/cdp-backup/how-to/turn-on-cdp-backup/"]}
---

# Keep backups after deleting a node

When you delete a node, you can keep its CDP Backup recovery points. You can then restore the
deleted node's files onto another node later. Kept backups are still billed until you delete
them.

## Before you begin

The node's **Backup Status** must read **Available**: keeping the backups is offered only then. With
any other status, deleting the node deletes its backups with it. If it reads **Backup Failed**, fix
the failure first; see [Troubleshooting CDP
Backup](/myaccount/cdp-backup/troubleshooting/cdp-backup/#backup-failed-or-an-email-says-the-backup-is-failing).

## Keep the backups when you delete the node

For the full delete procedure, see [Delete a node](/myaccount/node/how-to/delete-a-node/). When you
delete the node, the delete dialog shows **Keep CDP Backups for this node.**, already
checked. Leave it checked to keep the backups, and finish deleting the node. If you uncheck it, the
backups are deleted permanently along with the node. E2E sends no email about the
deleted backups.

The kept backup stays in **Manage CDP Backups**, and its **Backup Status** reads **Archived**. No
new backups are taken. It is billed like any other backup, on its licence and its storage, until
you delete it.

## Restore files from a kept backup

You can restore a kept backup's files onto another of your nodes. Choose a node that:

- is in the same region as the deleted node
- runs the same kind of operating system, Linux or Windows
- has CDP Backup on, with its first backup finished: its **Backup Status** reads **Available**
- is outside every VPC

Check the node and the folder before you click **Restore**. Once you click **Restore**, the restore goes
on until it is done. A restore skips any file whose name is already in the folder. To restore every file you
select, choose an empty or new folder.

1. In **Manage CDP Backups**, click the kept backup and open its **Backup Recovery Points** tab.
2. Open a recovery point's **Actions** and click **Browse**. If the backup is encrypted, enter the
   **Passphrase** and click **Submit**.
3. Select the files and folders, and click **Restore Selected**.
4. In **Restore on Node**, choose the node to restore to.
5. Under **Location**, choose **Default** to restore into a new folder under `/e2e-backup-restore/`
   (`c:\e2e-backup-restore\` on Windows). Or choose **Alternate**, and type a folder in **Path**,
   such as `/home/restore`. Use an absolute path. For a kept backup, the path cannot contain spaces
   or be `/` on its own.
6. Click **Restore**. For **Alternate**, check the path, and click **Confirm Restore**.

The restore starts with "Your backup restoration is in process.", and E2E emails the account owner
when the restore ends. A restore that skipped a file already in the folder reads **Finished**, and
its email still says it failed; see [The restore email says it failed, but the restore reads
Finished](/myaccount/cdp-backup/troubleshooting/cdp-backup/#the-restore-email-says-it-failed-but-the-restore-reads-finished).

A restore to a node in a VPC is refused with this message:

```text
You can't restore backup for VPC.
```

For more on choosing files and following a restore, see
[Restore files from a recovery point](/myaccount/cdp-backup/how-to/restore-files-from-a-recovery-point/).

## Delete a kept backup

Deleting a kept backup permanently removes every recovery point in it, and ends its billing.
Restore anything you still need first.

1. In **Manage CDP Backups**, open the kept backup's **Actions** menu and click **Delete**.
2. In **Confirm Delete Backup?**, click **Delete**.

You see "Backup deleted Successfully."

You can restore a deleted node's files for as long as you keep its backup. For problems with a
restore, see [Troubleshooting CDP Backup](/myaccount/cdp-backup/troubleshooting/cdp-backup/).